Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret Page A

backpack and offered it to him, but he didn’t take it.
    â€œI can’t do that,” he said. “I only work an eight-hour day. My back kills me if I drive longer than that.”
    â€œHow much would it be if you drove me west for four hours, and then returned alone?”
    â€œI’d have to charge you for both directions. I can’t drive an empty cab for four hours.”
    That seemed reasonable. “How much?” I asked.
    â€œHow are you going to pay me?”
    â€œCash.”
    â€œWhere did you get the money?”
    â€œI didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re wondering, and I didn’t sell drugs or do anything else illegal. I found the money and I advertised for the owner and nobody claimed it. It’s mine, fair and square.”
    He thought for a few seconds. “Four hundred dollars,” he said.
    For eight hours, that came to fifty dollars an hour. I doubted he averaged fifty dollars an hour. If he did, lots more people would want to be cab drivers.
    â€œHow much do you make in a normal eight-hour day?” I asked. The taxi said CHARLEY’S CAB on the side, so I was pretty sure he owned the vehicle and didn’t have to share what he got with a boss.
    â€œFour hundred dollars,” he said.
    I didn’t believe him. “I don’t have that much,” I said, figuring if he could lie, so could I. “I’ll give you one hundred-fifty dollars.”
    â€œTwo-fifty, paid in advance.”
    â€œTwo hundred, half now and half in four hours.”
    I could tell he was tempted, so I added, “And I’ll buy lunch.”
    He laughed. “You drive a hard bargain,” he said. “Hop in.”
    As Snickers and I climbed into the backseat of Charley’s cab, I looked at my watch. It was eleven o’clock. I wondered where we’d be in four hours.
    â€œYou’re lucky I just started today,” he said. “Otherwise I couldn’t do this.”
    â€œAre you Charley?” I asked.
    â€œAt your service. And you are . . . ?”
    â€œBrenda.” I have no idea where that name came from since I’ve never known anyone named Brenda. It just jumped out of my mouth. So far on this trip, I’d been Sunny, Kaitlyn, and now Brenda. At least Snickers stayed the same.
    Charley did not drive off. He seemed to be waiting for something. Finally I realized what it was. I opened my backpack, took out five of the twenty-dollar bills, and handed them to Charley. “Here’s your down payment,” I said.
    One at a time he held each bill up to the light, checking to be sure it was not counterfeit.
    â€œThanks,” he said, and pulled out into traffic.
    I had never spent that much money at one time before. I hoped we’d go many, many miles in the four hours.
    â€œNice dog,” Charley said. “What is he?”
    â€œA mutt.”
    â€œMutts are the best kind,” Charley said.
    â€œHis name is Snickers.” I almost added that we were taking a cab because the bus driver wouldn’t let him on the bus, but I caught myself. I needed to be careful about how much information I divulged. I didn’t know whether or not Rita had honored my request not to report me missing. Cops all over the country might be searching for me.
    It dawned on me that even if Rita had reported me missing, nobody would be looking for a girl with a dog. Snickers was now part of my disguise.
    â€œGood dog,” I said as I patted his head. “Good Snickers.”
    Snickers put his head on my knee, heaved a sigh, and closed his eyes. I leaned my head on the back of the seat and closed my eyes, too. I’m coming, Starr, I thought. I’m getting closer by the minute.
    A short time later I felt the cab stop. Looking out, I saw a sign that said WELCOME TO WYOMING. “You need to walk across the state line,” Charley said. “You’re a minor. I’m not certain, but I think I could get in